Nintendo sent me a photocopy of a manual. And charged full price! Updated with list!

[banpeikun]

I ordered a manual for Tetris DX (GBC). It was backordered but today I received from UPS a photocopy of the manual. Here's their letter.

Hello,

Thank you for your recent inquiry regarding Nintend products. We appreciate having this opportunity to fulfill your request.

Although this manual you requestd is no longer available in its original form, we are able to provide you with a photocopy. We have attached a photocopy of the manual as requested. Due to the cost involved in making photocopies, we continue to charge for this manual.

Please be advised that no person or company is authorized to photocopy this manual without express written consent.

Thank you again for contacting Nintendo. We hope you continue to enjoy Nintendo products.

Sincerely,

NINTENDO OF AMERICA, INC.
Consuer Service Department

[banpeikun]

This isn't really a rant, despite the SHOCKING!! title. I can see how someone who just wants to play Tetris would really appreciate getting even a photocopy instead of just having their item cancelled. But to me as a collector, it's pretty useless. Also in their defense, they shipped it by FedEx Express (though also a week later). So they spent a lot more than the $1.25 or whatever just shipping it. So my conclusion is, hats off to Nintendo's customer service. But maybe ask if I want a photocopy next time, since I may not be interested in actually playing the game haha.

[retrogaming]

I can see why you would be upset, but Nintendo's online store is pretty clear to me "This is the manual that was packaged with the game. The manual you receive may be a photocopy of the original manual."

Did you not see this? Or were you hoping for the original manual?

[mykevermin]

Kudos for simply posting this, as I expected some block o' text, grammatically bastardized rant-babble. Not because it's you, but more because that's how rants are usually framed.

I'm curious who is on the payroll at NOA that consciously thought, "We don't have any more manuals, but I bet they aren't collectors; they merely want to pay to figure out how to play Tetris." Then proceded to complete that thought, unquestioned, and copy the manual for fucking Tetris!

Someone is in over their head.

[help1]

Thats pretty shitty.. it is like a nice photocopy? or like stapled, black and white and not aligned?

[Vinny]

Thats pretty shit.. it is liek a nice photocopy? or like stapled, black and white and notaligned?

I'd actually like to know that as well...

[daroga]

I had a mix bag. A few I got were nice color copies, others were medicore B&W.

[help1]

I had a mix bag. A few I got were nice color copies, others were medicore B&W.

See thats something I WOULDN'T expect from nintendo.

[Vinny]

See thats something I WOULDN'T expect from nintendo.

Well, with a warning that you might get a photocopy, I wouldn't be surprised if they sent me some sh*tty photocopied manual on full pages that's stapled together.

[help1]

Well, with a warning that you might get a photocopy, I wouldn't be surprised if they sent me some sh*tty photocopied manual on full pages that's stapled together.

yeah... but mix of black and white and color?

[banpeikun]

Well, with a warning that you might get a photocopy, I wouldn't be surprised if they sent me some sh*tty photocopied manual on full pages that's stapled together.That's exactly what I got. Here, I'll put a scan of one of the pages up. Hang on...

[Staind204]

Well hopefully I don't have this same problem. I recently bought SMB : GBA Classic from EBgames. It was the last one and it was supposidly NEW for $9.99 but they said someone stole the box and manual. I'm not sure I really believe it is new but it was $10 (check the ebay prices on this, it goes for much more). I got home and emailed Nintendo saying I like all my games to be complete with ORIGINAL box and manual and asked if they could send them to me. They emailed me back saying they'd send me the manual but they no longer had the boxes. Hopefully I don't get a crappy photocopy like you did :(

[banpeikun]

Here's the picture:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/sleepingjacob/manualscan.jpg

So it's B&W, printed on a full piece of paper, and rather grainy. Also the line you see about 2/3 of the way down is on their piece of paper, not from the scan. The ghostly image in the back is from the first page showing through.

[ryan838]

That happened to me too. I wanted a copy of the Super Mario 64 manual and I got a photocopy. I was pretty pissed since I never saw the warning.

[banpeikun]

Yeah I didn't think to bother looking at the description.

[banpeikun]

Okay, for everyone's information, here's which ones I got manuals for and which ones I didn't:

Didn't get real manual:
GB Pokemon Blue
GB Game and Watch Gallery
GBC Game and Watch Gallery 2
GBC Tetris DX
SNES Super Mario Stars/World combo
SNES Ogre Battle

Got original manual:
GBC Super Mario Brothers DX
GBA Mario vs Donkey Kong
GBA Game and Watch Gallery 3
GBA Game and Watch Gallery 4
GBA Super Mario Advance (SMB2)
GBA Super Mario Advance 2 Super Mario World (with a map or something)
GBA Super Mario Advance 3 Yoshi's Island
GC Legend of Zelda OoT/MQ
GC Donkey Kong Jungle Beat
GC Zelda CE

[Vinny]

I'm guessing this is more time based issue... if you're requesting a manual for a currently available game, then you'll probably get a real manual. Otherwise, it'll be an old reprinted manual.

[Scobie]

I'm guessing this is more time based issue... if you're requesting a manual for a currently available game, then you'll probably get a real manual. Otherwise, it'll be an old reprinted manual.

Definitely. But c'mon, guys... can you really expect Nintendo to maintain ample stock of original manuals from games that came out a decade ago? It's amazing that they are even able to get photocopies of manuals for these games.

[Vegan]

In Nintendo's defense, you can call Customer Service and they'll tell you what you'll end up getting. Try to find another company that would even bother to do that.

[cgpwns]

They did the same thing to me years ago when I ordered the manual to Illusion of Gaia which was a whole bunch of paper in black in white.

[The Successful Dropout]

OMG, you got the limited edition photo copies!!!!

[encendido5]

Yeah, it seems like you get the actual manual for current gen games (GBA, GCN, DS) and copies for all the others. I have called before though and they were able to tell me whether I would get a real manual or a photocopy.

[botticus]

Yeah, it seems like you get the actual manual for current gen games (GBA, GCN, DS) and copies for all the others. I have called before though and they were able to tell me whether I would get a real manual or a photocopy.
Its just a matter of availability. Not Nintendo, but I asked THQ for a Tetris Worlds (GC) manual; they don't have any actual manuals even though it's only a few years old, but they emailed me a high-quality color PDF, missing only the cover. Good enough that I could probably print it out on the color laser here and have a coverless manual.

[WebScud]

In Nintendo's defense, you can call Customer Service and they'll tell you what you'll end up getting. Try to find another company that would even bother to do that.

The fact that they're willing to photocopy OOP manuals is a feat in and of itself. i don't think anyone else does that.

[banpeikun]

OMG, you got the limited edition photo copies!!!!They are for trade now OMG, LE Nintendo Manual Lithgraphs!!! I am looking for a top-load NES, we can begin trade negotiations from there.

[Staind204]

I got my SMB (GBA Classic NES Series) manual today. It was original :)

[Quigoni]

It really is a mixed bag..

At the Nintendo garage sale many of the SNES games had photocopied manuals. A few of them had the actual ones.

[20eyes]

I had the same thing happen back in the original game boy days, I ordered a zelda manual along with a few other and the zelda manuals they sent was a photocopy. That was about 10 years ago so this is nothing new. f I remember right they were like $1- $2 each.

BTW if anyone is looking for any GBA or GBC manuals just ask and ill see what i've got. I have around 100 GB manauls here for trade.
Since i'm new here check my feedback at digital press under 20eyes...

[wageslave]

This reminds me, I need to get a manual for a gun I bought off a friend from Smith and Wesson. Gun companies are cool about sending manuals.

[banpeikun]

Yeah, no one is going to sue Nintendo because they misused a GBA cart.